PARKLAND, Fla. – Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this month to walk the halls with family members of the victims killed in a mass shooting back in 2018. The heartbreaking incident claimed the lives of 14 students and 3 adults, injuring 17 others, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The tragedy sparked a wave of student activism advocating for stricter gun laws.
Office of Gun Violence Prevention head Vice President Harris plans to tour the building with family members, tracing the path of the shooter and visiting the locations where their loved ones lost their lives. The building, part of a campus that will be demolished this summer, remained mostly untouched post-shooting to preserve evidence for the shooter’s trial.
Harris’s visit comes as the White House intensifies its focus on gun violence prevention. The vice president has been actively promoting tougher gun laws and increasing mental health support in schools, allocating $285 million for counselor funding. She has taken the lead on gun violence prevention efforts, aiming to address widespread concerns among young voters regarding the issue.
During her travels nationwide, Harris engaged in town hall events at college campuses, where gun violence prevention emerged as a significant topic of discussion. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to gun safety, dispelling the false dichotomy often presented in gun control conversations.
Gun control remains a crucial issue for young voters, especially those of color and women, demographics pivotal to the Democratic voting base. Polling data from Tufts University underscores the significance of gun violence prevention for young voters, particularly young Black voters, further emphasizing the importance of Harris’s efforts in the realm of gun safety.
Harris will be accompanied by groups like March for Our Lives during her visit to Parkland, demonstrating solidarity with student-led movements advocating for an end to gun violence. These groups continue to push for more action from the administration on critical youth issues like climate change and global ceasefire initiatives, underscoring the need for sustained engagement and progress.